USA > New York > Livingston County > History of Livingston County, New York, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 25
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107 | Part 108 | Part 109 | Part 110 | Part 111
Says an author, unknown to the writer :- "To a deceased citizen of this village, [Geneseo]
. In this year the members of the society numbered 253, as follows :-- Avon, 26 ; Caledonia, 4 ; Conesus, 13: Geneseo, 81; Groveland, 15; Leices- ter, 21 ; Lima, 8; Livonia, 6; Mt. Morris, 10; North Dansville, +, Nunda, ; Portage, 3; Sparta, 3 ; Springwater, none ; West Sparta 5; York, 53 ; The number of members in IS48 was 141.
119
LIVINGSTON COUNTY AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY.
we believe, belongs the credit of first conceiving the idea of a mowing machine. About the year 1835 or '36, the late Wm. W. Wadsworth conceived the idea of constructing a machine for mowing, and he had a machine constructed after his plan, but we believe it did not work well, though it was doubt- less the first attempt to construct a machine. The machine of Mr. Wadsworth embraced a square frame, underneath which was a circular revolving plate, to which was attached short knives, and when in motion the plate revolved, bringing the knives in contact with the grass. Above the plate was a grind-stone in such position that the knives sharpened themselves as they passed beneath it. The machine was tried several times, but we be- lieve was never made to work satisfactorily, and after a while was abandoned. This, doubtless, was the first attempt to cut grass with a machine, and was, so far as we know, the starting-point from which emanated the great variety of mowers and reapers that have since been perfected, and which have done so much to lighten the labors of the farmer."
The following named gentleman have served the society in the capacity of president :- Wm. A. Mills, Mt. Morris, 1841; James S. Wadsworth, Geneseo, 1842, 1861 ; Holloway Long, York, 1843 ; Wm. H. Spencer, York, 1844, 1867-8; W. W. Wadsworth, Geneseo, 1845; Asa Nowlen, Avon, 18.46; Allen Ayrault, Geneseo, 1847; John R. Murray, Jr.,* Mt. Morris, 1848; Jedediah Hors- ford, Leicester, 1849; Chas. H. Carroll, Grove- land, 1850, 1863, 1864; Chas. Colt, Geneseo, 1851; Robert Rome, Geneseo, 1852; Chauncey R. Bond, Geneseo, 1853-4; Aaron Barber, Jr., Avon, 1855; Chas. Jones, Leicester, 1856; G. W. Root, York, 1857; Richard Peck, Lima, 1858; Alonzo Bradner, Dansville, 1859-'60; Jasper Bar- ber, Avon, 1862; Craig W. Wadsworth, Geneseo, 1865-6; Aaron Barber, Jr., Avon, 1869-'70 ; James W. Wadsworth, Geneseo, 1871-2; R. F. McMillan, Conesus, 1873-4; Hugh Wilson McNair, Sparta, 1875-6; Wm. A. Wadsworth, Geneseo, 1877-8; Jotham Clark, Jr., Conesus, 1879-'80.
The Livingston County Stock Association .- Liv- ingston county early acquired a wide celebrity for its choice herds of blooded cattle and other stock. About 1836, the first important importation of Durham stock was made into the county, though the Messrs. Wadsworth had previously introduced a few head among their own herd. In that year Edward A. LeRoy and Thomas Newbold imported the bull "Cadmus" and the cow " Lady Morris," which were then considered very choice stock. In
* Resigned. George T. Olyphant, elected Feb. 3, 1848, and resigned Feb. 8, 1848. Both resignations were based on the assumption that the office should be filled by a practical agriculturist. Jedediah Horsford was elected July 1, 1848.
1840, David Brooks, of Avon, introduced into the county about forty head of thoroughbred and grade Durhams, including the famous bulls " De- fiance " and "Red Jacket," and the cow "Betsey Blossom," portraits of which may now be seen in the office of the estate of W. W. Wadsworth, in Geneseo. About 1841 or '2, Mr. Brooks added to his stock the renowned bull "Splendor," and the cows "Moss Rose " and "Cleopatra." About the same time the late Gen. James S. Wadsworth bought the imported "Rockett" bull. The pro- geny of this stock are yet marked in the appear- ance of some of the present stock, and traced back to them. Soon after Mr. Sotham introduced a herd of Herefords .*
From this time until 1853 nothing further seems to have been done to stimulate improvements in this direction. At the close of the fair of the Liv- ingston County Agricultural Society in 1853, "the formation of an association for the purpose of importing blooded cattle for the improvement of the stock in this county, was discussed at some length by a number of the largest and most suc- cessful stock raisers of the county, and resulted in the appointment of Messrs. James S. Wadsworth, Allen Ayrault and C. H. Carroll, as a committee to mature a plan and call a meeting of the farmers at this place at an early day. Those present seemed fully convinced of the necessity of such a move. All admitted that the stock of this county instead of improving had for the last three or four years remained stationary."+
This action resulted in the formation of an asso- ciation for the above purpose, October 22d of that year, with a capital of $8,000. Any person was eligible to membership on the payment of fifty dol- lars, and thus secured the privilege of preference in the use of the stock imported, which was to be sold at public auction, the purchasers pledging themselves to retain it in the county for at least three years from the time of purchase. The asso- ciation made choice of the following named officers : James S. Wadsworth, President ; Daniel H. Fitzhugh, Secretary ; Allen Ayrault, Treasurer ; Charles H. Carroll, Aaron Barber, Wm. A. Mills, Robert Rome, Geo. W. Root and Richard Peck, Directors.
In furtherance of the object of the association, David Brooks, of Avon, and Samuel L. Fuller, of Conesus, repaired to England in January following
* Short-Horns in the Genesee Valley-Their History in Livingston County, by W'm. A. Brodie, of Geneseo, in American Rural Honte, Vol. 1., No. 1, Jan 7, 1871.
t The Livingston Republican, October 6, 1853.
120
HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY.
for the purchase of stock. They carefully selected and purchased twenty-four head, which were shipped the following spring to America; but unfortunately one-half the number were lost during a long and stormy passage. The remaining twelve were sold June 27, 1854, but at a figure which resulted in a small loss to the association. Many of the fine herds now owned in Livingston county are the progeny of this importation.
Soon after this the celebrated bull " Governor " and two cows were sent to this country. " . Gov- ernor' and his stock are too well known by stock men in Western New York to require special men- tion." In 1857, Mr. Brooks again did good service in introducing the bull " John O'Gaunt " and cows "Lady Rose " and " Dairymaid." Richard Peck, of Lima, was largely instrumental about this time in improving this class of cattle by introducing, with J. W. Taylor, some very fine blooded animals from Kentucky. Aaron Barber, of Avon, also aided largely in the same direction, and in the same way. In 1864, General James S. Wads- worth purchased the bull " Reynolds," of Mr. Alex- ander, the celebrated Kentucky stock breeder, "and there is much good stock in Geneseo and adjoining towns which attest his worth as a stock getter." A Kentucky bred bull was introduced about this time by Aaron Barber, and is credited with much good stock, known as the " Red Duke," which has been exhibited at Livingston county fairs. Since then the late Craig W. Wadsworth and James W. Wadsworth, especially the latter, have been conspicuous in their efforts to improve the stock in Livingston county, and have succeeded, adds Mr. Brodie, "in placing her in the van as the producer and exhibitor of the very best grades of cattle. Twenty years ago, but few farmers pos- sessed an animal other than of the common kind, but to-day almost everyone has some choice stock."
The Livingston County Historical Society .- The initiatory steps to organize the Livingston County Historical Society were taken by a few persons in Dansville in December, 1875. An adjourned meeting was held at Mt. Morris in Jan- uary, 1876, and attended by L. B. Proctor, of Dansville, Norman Seymour and Dr. M. H. Mills, of Mt. Morris, Richard Peck, of Lima, George W. Root, of York, and E. P. Fuller, of Grand Rapids, Mich., formerly of this county. Dr. M. H. Mills was chosen chairman and Norman Seymour, secre- tary. The officers chosen for the year 1876 were, Dr. D. H. Fitzhugh, president ; Dr. James Faulk- ner, William Scott, Adolphus Watkins, Dr. D. H.
Bissell and Deacon John McCall, vice-presidents ; Norman Seymour, secretary ; Hon. B. F. Angel, Dr. M. H. Mills, Samuel P. Allen, L. B. Proctor, Richard Peck and George W. Root, executive committee. The secretary, in compliance with the request of the Centennial Commission, prepared a historical address, which was delivered July 4, 1876, at Geneseo. February 13, 1877, the society met at the rooms of the Hook and Ladder Com- pany in Mt. Morris, and perfected its organization by incorporating under the statute. A constitution and by-laws were adopted, and the following named officers chosen: Dr. D. H. Bissell, Geneseo, pres- ident ; Dr. M. H. Mills, vice-president ; Norman Seymour, secretary and treasurer ; L. B. Proctor, Dr. L. J. Ames, Dr. D. H. Fitzhugh, George W. Root, Samuel P. Allen, Hon. B. F. Angel, Richard Peck, John F. Barber, E. H. Davis, councilmen, or board of administration.
The constitution declares that "the general ob- ject of the Society shall be to discover, procure and preserve whatever may relate to the history of Western New York in general, and Livingston county and its towns in particular, and to gather such statistics of education and population, growth and prosperity, and business of this region as may seem advisable or of public utility."
Members are required to pay an admission fec of one dollar and an annual due of like amount, except resident clergymen, who are exempt from the payment of dues. The payment of ten dollars at any one time constitutes a life membership, ex- empt from all annual dues. The annual meetings of the Society are held the second Tuesday in January, at such place as the president may desig- nate, and at such hour as the secretary in the notice of such meeting may name.
At the annual meeting in 1878, a place was ten- dered the Society in the Wadsworth Library build- ing in Geneseo, for depositing its books, maps, charts and relics.
The annual meetings of the Society have been regularly held at Geneseo during the last three years, and have been made both interesting and instructive by addresses and other literary ex- ercises.
The successive presidents are : Dr. 1). H. Fitz- hugh, 1876; Dr. D. H. Bissell, 1877-8; Dr. M. H. Mills, 1879; Hon. William M. White, 1880.
Livingston County Pioneer Association .- This as- sociation was organized at Long Point, on Satur- day, September 9, 1876, having objects kindred to those of the Historical Society, and made choice
I21
THE PRESS OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY.
of the following named officers: Dr. D. H. Bissell of Geneseo, president ; H. Tilton of Leicester, and M. Willard of Avon, vice-presidents ; S. P. Allen of Geneseo, recording secretary ; Oscar Woodruff of Geneseo, corresponding secretary. Committees of three from each town in the county were subse- quently appointed as follows: E. H. Davis, I. R. Newman and Fred Pierson, Avon ; Deacon J. Mc- Call, Peter Campbell and Alexander Ferguson, Caledonia ; S. Morris, H. Boyd and Jotham Clark, Conesus ; W. F. Lauderdale, Geo. W. Barney and John White, Geneseo ; Daniel H. Fitzhugh, Sam- uel Vance and Richard Johnson, Groveland ; James A. Bolton, E. W. Sears and W. B. Wooster, Lei- cester; W. A. Bristol, Richard Peck and A. T. Norton, Lima ; W. Wheeler, O. Remington and Henry Dixon, Livonia ; Dr. Z. Joslyn, Jacob Chil- son and N. Foote, Mt. Morris ; H. McCartney, George Hyland and Geo. A. Sweet, North Dans- ville ; J. V. D. Coon, H. D. Page and E. O. Dick- inson, Nunda ; I. Hampton, W. M. White and L. C. Lemen, Ossian : John Fitch, J. D. Lyon and J. D. Bennett, Portage ; John Shepard, Wm. Wilbur and John Campbell, Sparta ; O. Walbridge, D. Norton and A. Snyder, Springwater ; L. B. Field, J. W. McNair and C. W. McNair, West Sparta ; G. W. Root, Neil Stewart and B. F. Dow, York.
The meetings of the association are held annu- ally at Long Point and are always largely attended.
The Livingston County Bible Society was organ- ized at the court house in Geneseo, January 28, 1824, as an auxiliary to the American Bible Soci- ety, and made choice of the following officers : James Wadsworth, president ; Chas. H. Carroll and Jeremiah Riggs, vice-presidents ; Augustus A. Bennett, recording secretary; Rev. Norris Bull, cor- responding secretary ; Orlando Hastings, treasurer; George Hosmer, Avon, Willard H. Smith, Cale- donia, Samuel Chapin, Jr., Freeport, (Conesus,) Eben E. Buell, Geneseo, James Rosebrugh, Grove- land, Orrin Gilbert, Lima, Leman Gibbs, Livo- nia, Dr. Asa R. Palmer, Leicester, Jonathan Beach, Mt. Morris, William McCartney, Sparta, Alvah Southworth, Springwater, and William James, York, directors. The society, during its long and useful existence has distributed thousands of Bibles, the entire county having several times been canvassed for this purpose, and a copy left, often gratuitously, in every home where it was found wanting. Its annual meetings have been occasions of deep interest. At the last, recently held in Gen- eseo, the following named officers were chosen for 1881. A. J. Abbott, president ; Rev. J. F. Kitt-
ridge, corresponding secretary ; L. R. Doty, record- ing secretary ; John Davidson, treasurer; Dr. Wm. J. Milne, Col. John Rorbach, Dr. L. J. Ames, Dr. W. E. Lauderdale, Rev. O. S. Chamberlayne, exec- utive committee. Theo. E. Winans, Avon ; Rev. D. F. Bonner, Caledonia ; John Magee, Conesus ; E. F. Curtis, Geneseo ; Fort Benway, Groveland ; Rev. E. W. Sears, Leicester ; Rev. W. H. Milham, Livonia ; Rev. O. Gibson, Lima ; Rev. Mr. Wil- bur, Mt. Morris ; Rev. Mr. Hill, North Dansville ; Rev. A. Sutherland, Nunda ; Hon. William H. White, Ossian ; Chas. D. Bennett, Portage ; James Brownell, Sparta ; F. N. Curtice, Springwater ; Hugh T. McNair, West Sparta ; Hon. Arch. Ken- nedy, York, vice-presidents.
CHAPTER XII.
THE PRESS OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY-ORIGIN OF THE PRESS-THE AMERICAN PRESS-IT'S MAR- VELOUS GROWTH -- EARLY JOURNALISM IN LIVING- STON COUNTY-THE FIRST NEWSPAPER IN LIV- INGSTON COUNTY-THE UNION AND CONSTITU- TION - THE LIVINGSTON REPUBLICAN - THE DANSVILLE EXPRESS-THE LAWS OF LIFE AND JOURNAL OF HEALTH-THE NUNDA NEWS-THE DANSVILLE ADVERTISER-THE MOUNT MORRIS ENTERPRISE-THE LIVINGSTON COUNTY HERALD - THE UNION CITIZEN -- THE CALEDONIA ADVERTISER-THE SPRINGWATER ENTERPRISE- OBSOLETE PAPERS.
IN this chapter we have to consider what has been very appropriately termed the " art of arts ;" " the art preservative." It is to be regretted, how- ever, that the art which has given us so fully the history of other enterprises is so deficient in that of its own.
In view of the immense influence exerted by the press, whose power, says Douglas Jerrold, "is as boundless as that of society," it may not be inap- propriate to preface its history in this county with the following account of its origin :-
"Among the millions who are in the habit of consulting the columns of a newspaper, doubtless there are few, comparatively, who are acquainted with its origin. According to D'Israeli, we are in- debted to the Italians for the idea; although in ancient Rome, reports of important events, and the doings of the senate, were frequently published, under the title of Acta Diurna. The periodical press proper, commenced at Vienna and Augs- burg, Germany, in 1524; these bulletins were,
122
HISTORY OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY.
however, not printed. About the year 1563, at the suggestion of the father of the celebrated Mon- taigne, offices were first established in France, for the purpose of making the wants of individuals known to each other. The advertisements received were posted on the wall to attract attention ; as in the case of the Romans, this ultimately led to a systematic and periodical publication of advertise- ments in sheets. The epoch of the Spanish Arma- da, is also the epoch of the first orthodox newspa- per ; although we are told by Chalmers, and it is often repeated, to the wisdom of Elizabeth and the prudence of Burleigh, we are indebted for the first English newspaper, yet it is also claimed that the first English newspaper was the Liverpool Mercuric, begun May 28, 1576, forty-five years after the Gasetta at Venice. It is also said, on very good authority, that the copies of The English Mercuric in the British Museum are forgeries. The circum- stance of their being printed in the modern Roman character, instead of the black letter of that period, (1588,) awakens suspicion of their authenticity. During the reign of James 1., newspapers in the quarto form were occasionally issued ; but during the thirty years' war, when the exploits of Gustavus Adolphus attracted the eyes of the civilized world, we find a regular weekly paper edited by Nathaniel Butler, and published under the title of 'The Cer- tain Newes of this Present Week,' which may be regarded as the first regular weekly newspaper .* During the civil war in England in 1643, there was, however, a score of the ' Diurnals' and ' Mercuries' in circulation. So important an auxiliary was the press considered, indeed, that each of the rival armies carried a printer along with it. In the reign of Queen Anne, in 1702, there was but one daily paper published in London, the others being weekly issues. Steele introduced politics as an essential element of the press, and Addison sought to devote it to purely literary purposes ; the result has been the establishment of distinct vehicles for both.t The first journal having the character of a magazine or review, was the Journal des Savants established in Paris in 1693 ; in England, the first monthly of this sort appeared in 1749. From these simple elements has grown up an engine whose potency and influence is now felt throughout all classes of the civilized world." ±
The first printing press in America was set up in Mexico, in 1536; the second was at Lima, in 1586; and the third, and the first in the United States, at Cambridge, Mass., in 1639. The first Ameri- can newspaper was issued at Boston, September 25, 1690. It was published by Benjamin Harris, and printed by Richard Pierce, and was intended to be published once a month, but was immediately suppressed by the authorities. The only copy
known to exist is in the State Paper office in Lon- don, and is headed "Publick Occurrences, both Foreign and Domestick." The "Boston News Letter," published by John Campbell, appeared April 24, 1704, and was continued weekly until 1776. October 16, 1725, William Bradford, who founded the "American Weekly Mercurie" at Philadelphia, December 22, 1719, commenced the " New York Gazette," the first newspaper in the city indicated by its name. Daily newspapers did not make their appearance until the eighteenth century. The first daily morning newspaper was the Daily Courant, in 1709 .*
The press of this country has had a marvelous growth. In 1840, there were in the whole United States but sixteen hundred and thirty-one news- papers of all kinds; now we have over seven thou- sand. The circulation of all the newspapers in 1840 was one hundred and ninety-five million copies a year ; but now it is over two thousand millions, more than ten times greater than in 1840, and an annual average increase in over forty years of about thirty per cent. But in the gain in the size of sheets now published, in the amount, quality and variety of matter, in the number of the illustrations, in the quality of the paper and the perfection of the letter press, the progress has been still greater. In the number of newspapers pub- lished, the United States are far in advance of any of the older nations. We issue more newspapers than the four principal nations of Europe, viz :- Great Britain, France, Germany and Italy, not- withstanding one of them exceeds us in population, and a second is inferior in this respect by only an inconsiderable amount, while the other two closely approximate us. This fact is important as show- ing the reading habits of our people as compared with those of Europe.
The progress in this county is, in a measure, in- dicated by Samuel P. Allen, the veteran publisher of The Livingston Republican, who, in the retros- pect of the history of that paper on the completion of its fortieth year says :-
" It was in the office of the Register,t in 1830, that we first saw a printing press and types, and gradually learned to use them. The old office was the building now occupied in part by the United States Express Company, which then stood in the rear of Deacon Gardiner's cabinet shop. The old 'Ramage' press had then been super- seded by Hoe's iron presses, upon which two pages of newspaper could be printed at a single
*"The first regular series of weekly newspapers hitherto discovered was entitled, "The Weekly News from Italy, Germanie, etc, " (1622.) American Enclycopedia, Article on Printing.
t "The first literary paper, the Mercurius Librarius, was published in 1680." --- Ibid.
# Typographical Miscellany, 60.
* The American Cyclopedia. Article on Printing.
t This was the name under which the Genesee Farmer, the first paper in Livingston county, was published on its removal to Geneseo.
123
THE PRESS OF LIVINGSTON COUNTY.
' pull.' With the 'Ramage' it took two, and the papers were worked at the rate of 200 to 250 per hour by a fast pressman, but this was then re- markable speed. A cylinder press was scarcely known in the cities, while now steam power and steam presses are very common in country offices. There were only two papers in the county, the 'Register' and the 'Journal,' and the weekly edi- tions were distributed over the county by post- riders. * * * Instead of the post-rider, as formerly, who would be two or three days in pass- ing over his route, we send the 'Republican' by railroad into nearly every town within a few hours after it leaves the press."
There are now twelve papers, all weeklies, and one medical monthly, published in the county,* viz: The Livingston County Herald, by E. H. Davis, Avon ; the Caledonia Advertiser, by A. H. Collins, Caledonia ; The Livingston Republican, by Samuel P. Allen, and The Union Citizen, by Dr. Alonson L. Bailey, Geneseo; the Lima Re- corder, by A. Tiffany Norton, Lima; The Livonia Gazette, by C. M. Alvord, Livonia ; The Union and Constitution, by William Harding, and The MIt. Morris Enterprise, by Geo. M. Shull, at Mt. Mor- ris ; The Dansville Advertiser, by A. O. Bunnell, and The Dansville Express, by Woodruff & Knapp, at Dansville ; The Nunda News, by C. K. Sanders, Nunda; The Springwater Enterprise, by H. S. Niles, Springwater, and The Laws of Life and Journal of Health, by Our Home Hygienic Insti- tute, at Dansville.
The first newspaper in Livingston county was the Genesee Farmer, which was established and the first number issued February 6, 1817, by Hezekiah Ripley, at Moscow, which was then the most important village in the county. Franklin Cowdery soon after became associated with Mr. Ripley in its publication, at which time the paper was enlarged and its name changed to the Moscow Advertiser and Genesee Farmer. Within the year Mr. Ripley again became its sole publisher, and changed its name to the Moscow Advertiser, under which title he continued it till January 8, 1824, when it passed into the hands of James Percival, who removed it to Geneseo, where the county seat had been located, and changed the name to The Lit'- ingston Register, which, in an enlarged form, became the advocate af the Bucktail party. Inci- dent to the excitement produced by the abduction of Morgan in 1826, in the adjoining county of Genesee-an event which exerted a marked and wide political influence-it became an anti-masonic paper ; and subsequently it espoused the cause of
* In addition to this a paper styled The Aronian is published at War- saw.
the Whigs. In 1829 the paper became the prop- erty of Anson M. Weed and Allen Warner, who published it in company till the death of the former in 1831, when it again passed into the hands of Mr. Percival, who, in 1832, sold it to Elias Clark, from whom it was purchased in 1834 by Wm. H. Kelsey and Richard M. Miel, the latter of whom became the sole proprietor in 1835. Mr. Miel, being dissatisfied with the support it received from the Whig party, converted it into a Democratic paper, but soon after sold it to D. S. Curtis, who discontinued it in 1837. It was soon after revived and published a short time by Hugh Harding, who was succeeded by John Kempshall, who published it till the close of the presidential campaign of 1840, when the material was sold and removed to Perry.
This pioneer newspaper of Livingston county presented a marked contrast with those published within her borders to-day, the latter of which for- nish some of the best specimens of country news- paper work in the State, and are creditable alike in their literary character and mechanical execution. It was a small four-column sheeet, printed on coarse paper in ungainly large type, and was prin- cipally filled with foreign and legislative news, official documents and promiscuous advertisements. Like all the papers of that period it contained little or no local news.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.